The Energy Bill Revolution

The chancellor, George Osborne, announced today at the Conservative Party Conference that the Government will create an independent National Infrastructure Commission, enshrined in law, to work out “ calmly and dispassionately what the country needs to build for its future and hold any Government’s feet to the fire if it fails to deliver”.

The Commission will be chaired by Andrew Adonis, the former Labour Transport Secretary. The Chancellor set out three immediate priorities for the Commission, including HS3, a new Crossrail project for London and energy infrastructure.

The Energy Bill Revolution calls on the Commission and the Government to make home energy efficiency a UK infrastructure priority. It follows a letter recently sent to the Chancellor by over 50 business leaders reminding him that the government’s own data shows that an energy efficiency retrofit programme can create comparable economic benefits to other infrastructure investments and must be included in the UKs infrastructure spending plans.

Ed Matthew, Director of the Energy Bill Revolution, said,

“Our homes are infrastructure too. A programme to make them highly energy efficient must be a recommendation of this Commission. It would create huge economic benefits for the UK, whilst reducing energy bills, carbon emissions and fuel poverty. No other infrastructure investment can do so much for so many.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

The report containing these findings can be read here bit.ly/feReport

Information on the new commission can be found here gov.uk/government/organisations/national-infrastructure-commission